Three Rivers

Three Rivers' population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and ethnicity.

The population passed 87,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Three Rivers increased by 5.4%, from about 82,800 to 87,300.

The addition of almost 4,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Three Rivers was home to, on average, 7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Three Rivers

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Three Rivers increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This affluent suburban area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 1,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 16% of people in Three Rivers are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Three Rivers by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Three Rivers

The percentage of Three Rivers residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.2% to 2.8% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 14 (7.3%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.6% in 2001. The percentage of Three Rivers residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Three Rivers

The number of people in Three Rivers that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 12,000 in 2001 to just under 20,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 23% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Three Rivers that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 59,000 in 2001 to about 52,000 in 2011 (from 71% to 60%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 5,900 to just over 6,100. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.2% to 7.0%.

About 4,000 people (2.6%) said they were Hindu, up from just over 2,100 in 2001 (4.5%).

The population without a religion in Three Rivers increased by 8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Three Rivers by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Three Rivers, but at a slower rate than in Watford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Three Rivers).

In Three Rivers, the proportion of private renting increased from 5.7% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Watford increased from 9.7% to 20%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Three Rivers fell from 16% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 77% to 73%.

Private renting in Three Rivers increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Three Rivers, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Three Rivers

The number of people in Three Rivers from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 4,300 in 2001 to about 8,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 5.1% to 9.2% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 2.8% to 5.0%) and the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Three Rivers from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 77,000 in 2001 to about 75,000 in 2011 (from 92% to 86%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 1,000 to about 2,000 (from 1.3% to 2.3%).

About 1,600 people (1.0%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 830 in 2001 (1.8%).

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Three Rivers increased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Three Rivers by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Three Rivers

The percentage of adults in Three Rivers that were married decreased from 56% to 53% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Three Rivers that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.2% to 10%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 54% in 2001 to 50% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 51% to 47%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Three Rivers working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Three Rivers decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Three Rivers, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Three Rivers residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.5% to 3.9% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of Three Rivers residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Three Rivers decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Three Rivers, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households in Three Rivers with children increased from 31% to 32% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57%) households had no children, compared with 59% in 2001. The percentage of households in Three Rivers with only adult children living with their parents increased from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of households with children increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 29% in 2001 to 30% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Three Rivers residents that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 3.2% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 55%, while the percentage of Three Rivers residents that were self-employed increased from 11% to 14%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Three Rivers increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Three Rivers, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Three Rivers, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.1% to 8.7% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households had only one person, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of households in Three Rivers which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 41% to 39%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Three Rivers residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 50 (1.7%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Three Rivers remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Three Rivers by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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